U.S.-NAFTA freight flows rise for ninth straight month, reports BTS

Earlier this month, the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported that United States trade with its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, headed up on an annual basis in July, the most recent month for which data is available.  

This 6.5% increase marks the ninth consecutive month in which there has been an annual increase. Trucks carried 63.2% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks also accounted for $28.9 billion of the $47.6 billion of imports (60.7%) and $27.5 billion of the $41.6 billion of exports (66.2%).

Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 15.1% of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 7.1%; pipeline, 5.6%; and air, 2.3%. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 84.0% of the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.

BTS said that from July 2016 to July 2017, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows increased by 5.6% to $44.8 billion as the value of freight on four major modes increased annually. The value of freight carried on vessel increased by 19.7%, pipeline by 26.7%, rail by 4.7%, and truck by 2.5%. Air decreased by 1.3%.

The value of U.S.-Mexico freight flows for the same period was up 7.4% to $44.4 billion, with the value of freight on four major modes up annually. The value of commodities moved by vessel increased by 21.5%, air by 8.4%, truck by 5.4%, and rail by 4.2%. Pipeline decreased by 16.1%.

Trucks carried 68.6% of the value of freight to and from Mexico. Rail carried 14.6% followed by vessel, 9.7%; air, 3.1%; and pipeline, 0.6%. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.9% of the value of total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.